Franz is an experienced 10 times Dusi paddler and the two finished the race in five hours 27 minutes.
It was the last river race in Gauteng prior to the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon and was an important training opportunity.
Jennie Dallas from the Gauteng Canoe Union, says this training provided tough challenging, demanding and exhausting technical stretches
“There were numerous obstacles to climb in and out of or around, some awesome rapids with massive stopper waves and huge drops and holes that swallowed paddlers whole, as well as long distance and flat gruelling slog,” says Jennie.
Johan has only a few river races to his credit but has become hooked on river racing and although short on experience for the upcoming Dusi race.
Jennie says a few paddlers from Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape took part in the event as their own rivers have been dry due to drought conditions.
According to her quite a few paddlers lost their caps in huge waves on the first day and that is where the sponsored caps came in handy.
The FNB Dusi endurance event takes place from February 18 to 20 in the Valley of 1 000 hills, starting in Pietermaritzburg and ending in Durban.
Springs resident Tommy Booth and his canoe partner Jarryd Breeds clocked in five hours 55 minutes to finish the race.
